Kapenta with Nshima

Kapenta with Nshima photo 1
4 servings15 min prep20 min cookEasy Zambia

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Kapenta with Nshima

Kapenta, small sardine-like fish harvested from Lake Kariba after the dam's construction in the late 1950s, became a major Zambian protein source in the decades that followed. Traditionally dried, it's paired here with the nshima maize staple that anchors most Zambian meals.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings
  • 2 cups dried kapenta (small dried fish)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 green chili, chopped
  • salt to taste, nshima to serve

Instructions

  1. 1Rinse the dried kapenta briefly and soak in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften slightly, then drain.
  2. 2Heat oil in a pan and sauté the chopped onion until soft and golden.
  3. 3Add the chopped tomatoes and green chili, cooking until the tomatoes soften into a sauce.
  4. 4Add the drained kapenta to the pan and stir gently to coat in the tomato mixture.
  5. 5Simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kapenta is tender and the flavors have melded, adding a splash of water if the mixture looks dry.
  6. 6Season with salt to taste and serve hot alongside freshly prepared nshima and a vegetable relish.

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